John Walter Lawit

John Walter Lawit

Immigration Law Offices in Irving, Texas & Albuquerque, New Mexico
  • Immigration Law
  • New Mexico, Texas
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Biography

The attorneys and staff at John W. Lawit are dedicated to providing the highest quality legal services to ensure the rights and benefits of the immigrant community. We are also dedicated to protecting the rights of employers, by assisting with immigrant and nonimmigrant visa applications, I-9 compliance and worksite enforcement. As a team of legal professionals, we provide comprehensive, innovative and competent legal services to our clients to promote opportunities for a meaningful quality of life.

Firm History
John W. Lawit began practicing immigration law in 1980. Over the course of 42 years, John and his staff successfully assisted tens of thousands of clients within the realm of immigration law. The firm has helped clients from nearly every country in the world, within the full spectrum of immigration law. The firm has not only represented individuals, but has also helped with entire families, small business, and some of the largest institutions and corporations in the US.

Our Mission
We will strive to provide comprehensive and innovative solutions for immigration issues, both simple and complex. We will be persistent, industrious and exhaustive as we pursue every avenue of immigration eligibility for our clients. We are here not only to help our individual and corporate clients through the immigration process legally but also to provide compassion and insight into the difficulty and complexity of immigration issues. We are dedicated to educating the public about immigration law and policy in order to encourage fruitful and respectful discourse.

Practice Area
Immigration Law
Asylum, Citizenship, Deportation Defense, Family Visas, Green Cards, Immigration Appeals, Investment Visas, Marriage & Fiancé(e) Visas, Student Visas, Visitor Visas, Work Visas
Additional Practice Areas
  • Immediate Relative Visas
  • Provisional Waivers
  • DACA
  • Adjustment of Status
  • Waivers of Inadmissibility / 212(i) Waivers
  • Humanitarian Relief
  • Temporary Protected Status
  • U-Visas
  • VAWA Petitions
  • Removal Defense
  • Bond Hearings
  • Immigration Detention
  • Appeals
Fees
  • Credit Cards Accepted
    Visa Mastercard Discovery
  • Rates, Retainers and Additional Information
    All fees are flat fees determined by the complexity of each case.
Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice
New Mexico
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Pennsylvania
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Texas
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Languages
  • English: Spoken, Written
  • Korean: Spoken, Written
  • Spanish: Spoken, Written
Professional Experience
Founder and Senior Attorney
John W. Lawit, LLC
- Current
Adjunct Professor of Immigration and Nationality Law
Texas Tech School of Law
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Instructor
Catholic Social Services Staff
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Adjunct Professor of Immigration and Nationality Law
University of New Mexico School of Law
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United States Immigration Judge
United States Department of Justice
Education
University of New Hampshire School of Law
J.D. (1977)
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University of New Hampshire School of Law Logo
University of New Mexico
B.A. (1972)
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Awards
Elite Lawyer
Elite Lawyer
AV Preeminent
Martindale-Hubbell
2000 Millennium Friend of Children Award
Rainbow International
Jean Marshall Stolet Award, Volunteer of the Year
Jewish Family Services of Albuquerque, New Mexico
Distinguished Service Award in Immigration Law
Catholic Social Services of Albuquerque
New Mexico International Trade and Investment Council, Member and Secretary
The State of New Mexico
1984 - 1987
Honorary Consulting Attorney
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Republic of Mexico
New Mexico Border Commission, Advisory Board Member
The State of New Mexico
1982 - 1986
Best Lawyers in America
Best Lawyers
1991 - Current
Super Lawyer
Super Lawyers
2008 - 2009, 2011 - 2014
Professional Associations
Canadian Bar Association
Former Member
Current
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Dallas Bar Association, Immigration Section
Member/Founder
- Current
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State Bar of Texas
Attorney
- Current
Activities: Immigration Law Section
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American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee
Volunteer Attorney
- Current
Activities: Assist with civil rights and fight discrimination towards Arabs, and Muslims
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American Immigration Lawyers Association  # 188
Member
- Current
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State Bar of New Mexico, Immigration Law Section
- Current
Activities: Chair and founder.
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Publications
Articles & Publications
Proposition 187 - Trashing the Constitution
Torch. American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico
New Mexico Immigration and Nationality Law Practice Act
Author and Lobbiest
Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986-Employer Sanctions
Occu-Med Report
A Look at the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986
Business Outlook, Albuquerque Journal
Immigration Law for the General Practitioner
New Mexico Bar Association
SIN Adopta Nuevas Medidas Para Detectar el Fraude Matrimonial
El Hispano
Welcome to 1984: A Statutory Analysis of Social Service Restrictions Based on Immigration Status
The Torch, New Mexico Civil Liberties Union
Speaking Engagements
Immigration Problems Facing Military Personnel, Mini-CLE seminar
Kirtland Air Force Base - Office of the Judge Advocate General
Undocumented Persons: Christian Responses
The New Mexico Chapter of Churches and the Conference on Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy
Family Relationships Under the Immigration and Nationality Act
New Mexico Bar Association
ABCs of International Business Visas
Albuquerque Bar Association
Visas and the College Graduate
Graduate Student Assembly, University of New Mexico
Immigration Law for the General Practitioner
New Mexico Bar Association
Immigration Law for the General Practitioner
New Mexico Bar Association
The Sanctuary Movement – An ACLU Issue
New Mexico Civil Liberties Union and Common Cause
Immigration Law and the Medical Profession
University of New Mexico School of Medicine
The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986: An Overview of Employer Sanctions, Anti-Discrimination, Provisions, and Amnesty
Lecture presented to numerous business and professional organizations throughout New Mexico
Current Issues in Immigration Law, Constitutional and Statutory
New Mexico Humanities Speakers Bureau
Immigration Law - What You Need to Know
Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce
Family Relationships Under the Immigration and Nationality Act: An Update
New Mexico Bar Association
The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986: Implications for the State of New Mexico, LULAC-New Mexico State Convention
Employer Obligations Under the New Immigration Law
Contractors Consulting Services of New Mexico
What Every University Counsel Needs to Know About United States Immigration Laws
Annual Conference of the National Association of College and University Attorneys
Civil Liberties and the New Immigration Law, Hispanic Vote 88 Conference
New Mexico Civil Liberties Union, Albuquerque
Is There Life After Death? What to do after a Legalization Appeal has been Denied?, Continuing Legal Education Seminar
Immigration Law, Constitutional and Statutory; New Mexico and the U.S. Constitution: A Lecture Series
Albuquerque Bicentennial Diamond Jubilee Committee
Immigration Law, Constitutional and Statutory; New Mexico and the U.S. Constitution: A Lecture Series
Albuquerque Bicentennial Diamond Jubilee Committee
Everything You Wanted to Know about Visas and Were Afraid to Ask
Graduate Student Association, University of New Mexico
l-9s: Who, What, Where, When
University of New Mexico
AIDS and U.S. Immigration Law, New Mexico AIDS Consortium
What to do About Your Immigration Status Before and After Graduation
University of New Mexico
INS Family Fairness Program
Catholic Social Services
Marriage Fraud Act of 1986
New Mexico Bar Association
Upcoming Changes in U.S. Immigration Law: The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1990
University of New Mexico
Immigration Act of 1990 – Big Changes for the College Personnel Office
College and University Personnel Association (CUPA)
The Immigration Act of 1990 – Changes in the Act and How They Affect You, New Mexico Bar Association CLE Seminar
The Immigration Act of 1990 – Changes for Students, Faculty and All Workers
University of New Mexico
Immigration Documentation (I-9) and Compliance, Seminar, New Mexico Restaurant Association
Immigration in the 90s: Surviving the Quotas
University of New Mexico
Entering the Land of Opportunity, Working in the Land of Enchantment, New Mexico Health Resources, Inc., Health Professional Recruitment and Retention Seminar
The Basics of Practicing Immigration Law
University of New Mexico School of Law,
I-9 Preparation and Retention
Office of Faculty Contracts, University of New Mexico
Visa Options For Medical Personnel, An Update
Immigration Law In New Mexico: Immigration Survival For Business
National Business Institute
Battered Spouse and Children Provisions in U.S. Immigration Law
State Bar of New Mexico
Immigration Consequences Of Criminal Activity
Criminal Law Section, New Mexico Bar Association, Albuquerque
Changes in US Immigration Law: New Immigration Consequences of Criminal Convictions, US Federal Public Defender
Changes in US Immigration Law Affecting Students and Professionals
University of New Mexico
IIRIRA effects on M-1/F-1/J-1 (Students and Scholars)/H1B and Permanent Residency, NAFSA State Workshop/Conference
New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology
New Asylum Policies and Regulations Affecting Chinese Nationals in the United States
University of New Mexico
Recent Changes in US Immigration Law Affecting College Personnel Administration
New Mexico Institute of Mining & Technology
How US Immigration Laws Affect the Domestic Violence Perpetrator, Victim and Families: U.S. Immigration Law and Domestic Violence.
Domestic Violence Training Conference
F-1 & J-1 Visas, New Mexico NAFSA Spring Workshop
Hiring International Students
How Immigration Law Affects Your Practice
New Mexico State Bar Association
Immigration Policy and Foreign Trade Zones
International Trade Council of New Mexico
Basic Business Immigration Law for New Mexico Employers
National Business Institute
Changes in U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Visas and 1-9 Compliance
The College & University Personnel Association
Schedule A, Group II and Outstanding Researchers., AILA Texas Chapter 2000 Spring Conference
Non-Immigrant and Immigrant Visa Opportunities to Foreign Students and Professionals.
Kaplan Educational Centers and UNM International Office Programs
F-1, J-1, Practical Training and Then What?
University of New Mexico Seminar,
H-1B Visa Update and Employment Based Immigration
Santa Fe Economic Development, Inc
Human Rights and The Practice of Law - Making International Law a Tool for More Effective Advocacy: The Relevance of International Treaties to the Practice of Immigration Law
Non-U.S. Citizens (Foreign Nationals) and Mental Health: Access to Services and International Transfer/Repatriation Issues
National Association of State Mental Health Program Director’s Legal Division Annual Meeting
Immigration Post-September 11th
New Mexico State NAFSA Meeting
Current Changes in U.S. Immigration Policy
Sandia National Laboratories
Employment Visas for Foreign Medical Personnel
University of New Mexico Health Sciences
September 2003
Recent Immigration, Policy, Procedures & Eligibility Issues
New Mexico State University
“Immigration Law Update
2002-2009
Immigration Law Update
University of New Mexico
2002 - 2009
Current Immigration Law Update: Temporary Workers and Employment Based Permanent Residency
Texas Tech University
NAFTA Employment Visas
American Immigration Lawyers Association
NAFTA Employment Visas
American Immigration Lawyers Association
Immigration and Employment Law
Sterling Education Services and New Mexico Bar Association
What’s New in Immigration
College and University Professional Association for Human Resources Rio Grande Chapter
2nd Annual Advancing the Human Resource/Attorney Relationship
Center for Legal Education of the State Bar of New Mexico
Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) for Minors in Removal Proceedings: How to Obtain SIJS through Guardianship.
Center for Legal Education of the State Bar of New Mexico
Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) for Minors in Removal Proceedings: How to Obtain SIJS through Guardianship
Texas Tech University Lubbock
Immigration Issues in the Workplace
Continuing Legal Education Seminar,
Immigration Law Update for Professionals
NMSU
Bridge The Gap – Immigration Law
New Mexico State Bar Association
Immigration Update, Employment Based Applications, Entry and Visa issues
New Mexico State University
Employer Sanctions and 1-9 Compliance, What Every Employer Must Know
Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce
I-9 101
New Mexico Institute of Mining & Technology
Representing Victims of Cartel & Government Violence.
Leadership New Mexico
Current Trends In Employment Based Immigration Law
LawReviewCle
Immigration issues for College and University Faculty, Staff and Students
Western New Mexico University
Fair Labor Standards Act in New Mexico- Foreign Worker Issues, Lorman Education Services
Walking the Line on Police Privatization: Efficiency, Accountability and Court Decisions, The 2013 International Conference on Strengthening Anti-Corruption Competitiveness through a New Governance Paradigm
The Korean Association for Public Administration (KAPA)
Citizenship Overview, Immigration Law 101, Houston, Texas
State Bar of Texas
Asylum Overview Panel and Mock Hearing
Dallas Bar Association
Websites & Blogs
Website
Blog
Contact & Map
John W. Lawit, LLC
4324 N. Belt Line Rd., Bldg C, Suite 110
Irving, TX 75038
Telephone: (214) 609-2242
Monday: 9 AM - 5 PM
Tuesday: 9 AM - 5 PM
Wednesday: 9 AM - 5 PM
Thursday: 9 AM - 5 PM
Friday: 9 AM - 5 PM (Today)
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed
John W. Lawit, LLC
2929 Coors Blvd NW
Suite 106
Albuquerque, NM 87120
Telephone: (505) 545-6785
Monday: 8 AM - 5 PM
Tuesday: 8 AM - 5 PM
Wednesday: 8 AM - 5 PM
Thursday: 8 AM - 5 PM
Friday: 8 AM - 5 PM (Today)
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed